Machine for forming u shaped shackles



Dec. 12, 1933. .1. w. LEIGHTON MACHINE FOR FORMING U--SHAPED SHACKLES Filed Nov. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I m/enzbn Jahn WyC/IY/iz high I l, v 65 I'IIIII J. W. LEIGHTON MACHINE FOR FORMING U-SHAPED SHACKLES 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 50

Dec. 12, I933.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE momma roa roams u swan snaoxms John Wycliffe Leighton, Port Huron, Mich.

Application November :0, 1932 Serial No. 644,985

9 Claims. (CI. 29-34) The principal objects of this invention are to ends are provided with inwardly extending ellipfacilitate the manufacture of single piece U- tical-shaped projections 8 conforming to the shaped shackles, whereby the cost of production shape of the depressions 9 in the sides of the I structure produced, and to devise a machine of Spiral compression springs 10 housed in resimple and durable construction: cesses in the centre block 6 hold the hinged blocks The principal feature of the invention consists 7 outwardly to an outward limit position so that 10 pair of rollers, whereby on the movement of the ram. rollers over the die members, a metal bar is com- Mounted in the base 11 are a pair of cylindripressed and deformed, and the ends of the bar cal rollers 12, the perimeters of which are spaced projecting from the compressing portion are enapart to engage the outer fiat faces of the pivgaged by roller dies to bend the bar in the plane otal die blocks 7 and as the inner ram moves II of the deformed portion-over an' anvil arranged downwardly, said rollers force the die blocks 7 between the moveable dies. inwardly toward each other, so that the elliptical In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional projections 8 thereof are pressed into and deelevational view of the press for forming the u form the central part of the heated length of rod bolt. held between the blocks 2.

m Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the press During this operation the cams operating the taken at right angles to the section shown in rams of the press operate said rams at a uniform Figure 1. speed and the positioning blocks 2 hold the Figure 3 is a plan view of the die press. Figure heated rods centrally to receive the impression 4 is an elevational view of the U bolt. of the dies 8 and also prevent the elongation of 85 Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view of the the bar when the bar is undergoing the flattened U bolt taken at right angles to Figure 4. operation.

In the manufacture of a U-shaped shackle such The inner ram then travels ahead of the outer that great accuracy be obtained in producing the '7 in their inward position gripping the heated 80 shackles of uniform dimensions, both as to shape, and partially deformed bar. The dies move belength of the arms, deformation of the central tween a pair of grooved rollers 14 which are arportion and the bending to produce the parallel ranged in alignment with the centre line of the ends with their axes in alignment with the meblocks 2 and the further downward movement dian plane of the flattened portion A of the of the centre ram passing between the grooved 36 shackle. rollers affects the upward bending of both ends In the construction of the machine as herein of the bar simultaneously, thus forming the U- shown, the dies are placed on a double action shaped shackle members as illustrated in Figpress and the outer ram 1 is provided with reure 4. cessed blocks 2 adjustably mounted therein and The outward sides of the die blocks 7 are pro- 40 secured in their adjusted positions by the adjustvided with parallel surfaces 15 to retain engageing screws 3. ment with the peripheries of the rollers 12 until such bars abut the ends of the recesses 4 to acso that the action of the springs 10 forces them 45 curately position the bars and definitely limit outwardly so that the die portions 8 are moved elongation thereof. 7 clear of the bolt. I

The inner ram 5 operates at the same rate of A pair of pivotal dogs 16 mounted below the speed as the outerram'during the initial opergrooved rollers 14 are spring held inwardly toation and said inner ram has acentrally arward each other by the spring bolts 17. The

50 ranged die block 6, the bottom of which is shaped dogs 16 spread apart as the U bolt passes down- U bolt and is grooved vertically to utimately remediately the ends of the U bolt pass the said ceive the parallel ends of the bolts. dogs they spring inwardly, so that upon the re- Hinged at either side, of the centre die block tum movement of the ram, the dogs engage the 55 6 are a pair of blocks 7, which at the bottom upper ends of the U bolt and strip the same from 0 operation,

thecentrediealiowingittodropthroughthe opening 18.

Intheoperationofthismachinetheheated rod is inserted between the die blocks 2 with theendsextendingintothed. Theinner ram 5 moves downwardly until the centre die blockdengagestherodandtheramslands era 12 and the formed shackle is stripped from the centre block by the strippers 16.

use device is of simple and rugged construction, is easily operated and produces, in a single a shackle of uniform dimensions prepared ready for threading.

What I claim as my invention is:-

1. A machine for forming shackles comprising, means for positively gripping and concurrently flattening a bar of metal midway of its length, and means for simultaneously bending the ends of said metal bar in the same plane as the flattened portion and at right angles to the central portion thereof while the latter is positively gripped by saidfirst-mentioned means.

2. A machine for making shackles comprising, means for bending the ends of a bar of metal us form a U-shape, and gripper means for compressing and deforming said bar midway of its length in a direction and form to maintain the ends in their parallel relation, said gripper means acting to positively retain said bar against longitudinal shifting during the bending operation.

3. A machine for forming U-shaped shackle bolts comprising, an anvil member, die members adapted to engage a bar of metal midway of its length, means adapted to force said die members to deform the central portion of said bar, and means for engaging and bending said bar into a U-shape while its central portion is rigidly held, the bending being done in the direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said die member.

4. A machine for forming U-shaped shackle bolts comprising, a reciprocable member, means carried by said reciprocable member adapted to engage and grip a bar of metal midway of its length, means adapted to force said latter means carried by the reciprocable member into deforming contact with the central portion of said bar, and grooved rollers rigidly held in a position to engage the ends of said metal bar and bend same simultanenously to a position at right angles to the centre portion and in alignment with the plane of the central portion during the movement of said reciprocating member.

5. A machine for forming 'U-shaped shackle bolts comprising, an anvil member having longitudinal grooves therein, a pair of die blocks having die portions adapted to engage and deform the metal bar placed therebetween, a pair of rollers mounted to engage said die blocks and to press them against said metal bar, a pair of grooved rollers arranged in alignment with the grooved sides of said anvil adapted to engage the metal bar projecting beyond the anvil and to bend same into said longitudinal grooves, and means for stripping the formed U-bolt from the anvil member following the forming of the bolt.

6. A machine for forming U-shaped shackle bolts comprising, a reciprocable anvil member having longitudinal grooves in opposite sides, a pair of die blocks pivotally secured at their upper ends on opposite sides of said anvil member and having die portions extending beneath the end of said anvil member, the outer sides of said blocks having flat parallel faces at the free ends and recessed portions between said parallel faces and the pivot ends, a pair of rollers mounted to engage the flat parallel faces of said blocks as the anvil moves longitudinally to press the die portions into the metal bar placed between same, means adapted to force said die blocks outwardly to free the metal bar as the rollers engage the recessed faces, means for bending the ends of said bars into the longitudinal grooves of the anvil while the bar is gripped by said die blocks, and means for stripping the formed shackle from the anvil.

'1. A machine for making shackle bolts comprising means for compressing and deforming a bar of metal midway of its length, means engaging the ends of said bar during the deforming of the central portion to limit elongation of the bar, and means for bending the ends of said bar to form a U-bolt.

8. A machine for forming U-shaped shackle bolts comprising a reciprocable member, means carried by said reciprocable member adapted to engage a bar of metal midway of its length, adjustable means adapted to force said means car ried by the reciprocable member into pressure contact with said metal bar to deform the said central portion, and adjustable means for engaging and bending the ends of said bar to form parallel ends while the centre portion is rigidly held.

9. A machine for forming U-shaped shackle bolts comprising, a die block having a central opening, a pair of rollers adjustably mounted on parallel axes one at each side of said opening, a pair of grooved rollers adjustably mounted on parallel axes one at each of the other sides of said opening, a reciprocating anvil member adapted to pass between said pairs of rollers a pair of die blocks mounted on opposite sides of said anvil member and adapted "to engage one set of said rollers and having dies adapted to engage and compress a metal bar placed therebetween and hold said bar rigidly to the anvil member while the ends of said bar engage the other pair of rollers, and stripping members mounted below the second set of rollers adapted to engage the ends of the bolt and strip it from the anvil on its reverse movement.

JOHN WYCLIFFE LEIGHTON. I 

